View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Bogadi marriages are arranged to retain what?

2. In "African religions," what does African religion focus on?

3. What is the only industry that the British used Botswana for?

4. What did the British bring to South Africa, which aided women as food producers?

5. What writer does Bessie quote in "Social and political pressures . . ."?

Short Essay Questions

1. In "African Religions," what does Bessie state is at the root of religion in Africa?

2. When Bessie arrived in Botswana in 1964, what were the major differences that she noticed between that country and South Africa?

3. Why according to Bessie has Botswana survived by "sheer luck and unexpected good fortune"?

4. How are Bessie and the American woman different?

5. In "Despite Broken Bondage . . .," how were women treated in Africa before independence?

6. How does Bessie describe the world that a black South African is born into?

7. How is Bessie's hatred of the white man lessened in Chapter 2?

8. Why does Bessie think of the American woman as some sort of goddess?

9. What was Bessie's life like during the two years that she lived in the refugee community in northern Botswana?

10. What was Bessie's first experience of racism in a black form?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Bessie developed an early love for Capetown and returned there frequently. What did her friends tell her about Capetown in 1958? Why does she love it so much? What sense does she get there? Why do the whites of the Cape describe it as having a liberal tradition? What does Bessie think of their assessment? Why does she say they pride themselves on this? What kind of personality do the Cape Coloureds have that she admires? What compromise have they made with the ruling group? What impressions do you get from Bessie regarding this compromise?

Essay Topic 2

Bessie's friend, Snowball, had a difficult time living in District Six in Capetown. What was Snowball's general demeanor? Even though he was devoutly religious, what did he believe could live together in chaotic happiness? How was Snowball treated by the landlady and most of the community? Could they see beyond the fact that he had once been a professional thief and served jail time? Was this fair to him? What kind of humbling lesson did Snowball teach Bessie? What did she learn about herself and her attitude toward religion? Why did Bessie finally give up trying to protect Snowball? Do you think that Snowball left a lasting impression on Bessie?

Essay Topic 3

The Natives Land Act of 1913 deeply affected the lives of the South African blacks. What was the purpose of the Act? What did the shortage of labor at the mines have to do with the passing of the Act? What were the consequences for whites, who allowed the blacks access to water or grazing land? What, do you think, was the main effect on the psyche of the one million black people affected by the passing of this Act?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 956 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample